Apparatus for the treatment of flour and the like



Jan. 18, 1944. F, 5, SMITH 2,339,735

APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF FLOUR AND THE LIKE Filed July 25, 1941 ssheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR (Team/(0 6. 3/1/24 ATTORNEY F. 5. SMITH Jan. 18,1944;

APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF FLOUR AND THE LIKE Filed July 25, 1941 3Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fQA/kd/IV 5671/7 ATTORNEY Jan. 18, 1944-. I s$M|TH 2,339,735

APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF FLOUR AND THE LIKE Filed July 25, 1941 3Sheets-Sheet '5 ATTO . forms.

Patented-Jan. 18, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE mmrus Foit'TnETREATMENT or Franklin S. Smith, Bethany, Conn. Application July 25,1941, Serial No. 403,940

This invention relates toa method and apparatus. for the treatment ofmilled and .other products in bulk, such as flour, for the destructionof life in the forms of insect infestation that may be contained in suchproducts; In my co-pending applications, Serial Numfiled September 26,1939; 321,680,-filed March 1,

-bers 296,543, filed September 26, 1939;. 296,544,-

1940; 345,715, filed July 16, 1940; 372,954, filed January 3, 1941 and395,030, filed May24','l941, I havedisclosed various forms of apparatussuitable for destroying the life in the forms of insect infestationcontained in such products and which may be present therein in variousof its stages,

such as in the form of eggs, larvae, pupae, or adults; in suchapparatus-I efiect movement of the particles of the product and of theforms of insect life in curved paths to cause them to set the apparatusto bring about a life-destroying mutilation oi the forms of insect life.I have a up centrifugal forces and to eflEect-coactions with 10 Claims..(01. 21- 1) prove the iunctioningfiot apparatus of the charactcrdisclosed in my above mentioned co-pending application. Another objectis to achieve dependable life destroying action on forms .of insectinfestation atlower speeds of rotation of the rotary treating unit, and,by making it possible to operate the apparatus at lower peripheralvelocities, to achieve other practical advantages.

Other objects, will be in part obvious or in part v pointed outhereinafter:

The invention, accordingly, consists in the teatures of construction,combinations of. elements,

arrangements of parts and in the several steps and relations and orderof each of the same to one or more of the others, all as will beillustratively described herein, and the scope ofthe appiicationoi whichwill be indicated in the'following claims.v

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown variouspossibleembodiments of the mechanical features of my invention,

found that, with such apparatus whose-treating units are 'capable ofvarious physical embodiments such as those illustratively shown in theaforesaid applications, it is possible, under suitable circumstances, tocause the apparatus also to break up and hence mi11the product particlesby coactions similar or analogous to those which eflect a lifedestroying mutilation of the forms of insect life, particularly withcertain kinds of product and particularly where the forces that are madeeffective upon both product particles and forms of insect life aregreater than is necessary to effect destruction of life in the insect Tomore eifectively guard against breaking up or milling of the product,and particularly where the product particles are of sizes and character--Figure 1 is a front elevationof one form of apparatus, certain partsbeing broken away and istics such as those of corn meal, farina; semo- YAnother-object is to provides. simple, practical and inexpensiveapparatus of the above mentioned character in which breaking up ormilling of product particles, particularly where the product is of thecharacter of farina, corn meal and others, may be dependably avoidedwhile insuring dependable destruction of life in the forms h ectinfestation. Another object is to im parts throughout the several viewsof the drawcertain other parts being shown in central vertical section;

Figure 2 isa horizontal sectional viewas seen along the line 2-2 ofFigure 1;

' I Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, as seenalongthe line 3-3 of Figural;

Figure 4 is a view like that of Figure l, with certain, parts omitted,showing another form of apparatus;

Figure 4 is a detached fragmentary view on an enlarged scale showingpart of the apparatus 7 of Figure 4;

Figure 5 is a view like that of Figure 1,- with certain parts omitted,showing another form of apparatus, and

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view as seen along the line 6-6 ofFigure 5.

Similar reference characters refer to similarv ings.

- Referring first to Figure 1, I have there "shown a rotaryproduct-treating unit, for purposes of illustration, embodying'certainof theprinciples of action disclosed in my, above-mentionedapplications, but in structurally and functionally improved form toachieve certain further -ob-' J'ects and advantages; in-Figure 1 thisrotary treating unit is generally indicated by the reference characterIt) and is mounted in any suit- I able way for rotation at suitablespeed, preferably by way of a hub-ll interiorly tapered and fitted to.andcoaxially secured to the tamachine, or a packer or storage bin.

pered portion 12 of a shaft 12. These parts are securedtogether in anysuitable way; preferably in amanner to permit ease of disassembly and atI3 is generally indicated a sleeve member threaded onto a threadedextension of the shaft l2 and constructed, as described in, for example,my application Serial No. 321,680, .to coact with the hub II to clamp itonto the shaft or to puiiit off for disassembly.-

- currence of conditions of unbalance arising durto receive the productto be treated, usually 1.

from the discharge end of a machine or apparatus forming part of theusual production equipment employed in the milling of the products to betreated. The lower casing section I! is provided withan outlet passage22 flanged as at- 23 so that a conduit 2l may be connected to it todischarge the treated product from the tus for movement onto the nextmachine appara or apparatus, such as a bagging or. packing} In thepreferred and illustrative case the shaft l2 preferably comprises the:shaft of an electric motor of which the casing is shown in Figure 1 at25, being provided in any suitable way with suitable bearings, such ascombined radial and thrust antifrlction bearings, preferably mounted inextensions 25and 25" of the casing".

'form, the treating unit II is electrically driven andin such jacket andat its upper and inner end is inter- .fitted with the bearing extension25", thus form- 'ing a strong brace to transmit to the casin structure14 strains or thrusts which shaft l2 might exert.

The rotating parts of the apparatus are preferably constructed to bedynamically balanced and, as described in my above-mentionedapplications, provision is made for preventing overstressing of parts orcausing unsafe vibration or other undesirable effects due to the ocingoperation of the treating unit. Where, as in the illustrative forms inthe drawings, the shaft I2 is rigidly supported from the casin structureI4, I preferably support the latter so that it and the internallysupported rotating parts may precess .when a condition of unbalancearises.

Such a supporting arrangement may comprise a ring-like frame membersupported by suitable standards 36 which may be secured to the floor, asat 31, member 35 carrying a resilient or cushioning member 38,iilustratively of rubber and preferably in tubular form and resting in asuitable seat that extends around the member 35. The upper peripheralportion of the lower casing section I5 is provided with ,an outwardly,directed peripheral flange having a downwardly facing concaveperipheral seat to take the cushioning member 38, the latter being thusinterposed between members 35 and 40 .and where made of rubber andtubular member 38 is sufllciently thick-walled and of 35 a suitablequality to give the desired resiliency of action and to carry the' loadwithout permanent deformation.

The product to be treated enters the apparatus through the inlet passagel1 and by the flangestructure It is guided to the treating unit III.

In the illustrative arrangement the motor.

frame '23 is rigidly secured to and within the. casing structure II inany suitable way. Preferably, the. motor is of'the enclosed fan-cooledtype and the mounting means for themotor may. form part of the aircooling system of the e a1.'l{o. 296,535. For present purposes. t issuflcient to note that the motor casing 25 is rigidly secured to thelower casing section Ii by two diametrically opposed bracket structures23, 21 adjacent the upper end of the casing 25 and two diametricallyopposedand alined bracket structures 23' in the lower end of the as, forexample, by means of.

[ tubular, thus thew-outside of the apparatus'casing' ll to the casing.The two pairs. of brackets 2P2! and 23 extend along diameters that makean n e to each other of say 90 and the brackets may be securedto orformed integrally withv an outer jacket or casing "surrounding the motorcasing25 and, with the bracketshollow or form connections or passagesfrom 33. Air, may be im- "anysuitable was,

inside of the jacket casing pelled through the iacket in accommodatedin,,the lower portion of the jacket structure and secured to and drivenby the lower end of the motorshaft it Thus, bracket 23 may servea's asoutlets for the air which absorbsthe heat losses in the motor dissipatedthrough the mo- -member-33 is intern Jnotor, as described in detail inmy application In so far as certain features of my invention" areconcerned, the'treating unit In may be given any,

suitable structural form to provide it with a product inlet adjacent itsaxis of rotation and a,

product outlet at a greater. radial distance from its axis, with anintervening space or zone or spaces or zones in which,- under the actionof the centrifugal forces set up in the forms of insect infestatipn bythe rapid rotational movement forms is destroyed; in my above-mentionedapplications, several such possible structural form of treating unit aredisclosed.

And for purposes of illustration, I have herein 55 selectedseveral .ofthe various forms of the apanair impeller 32 paratus disclosed in my andhave shown them in the drawings modified to embody my presentimprovements; Thus, referring again to-Figure 1, the there showncomprises, as Serial #321,680, a main carrier member 42 preferably andillustratively substantially frustoconical and preferably formedintegrally with the above mentioned hub Ii Carrier member 42 supports orhas related to' it one or more members to provide a corresponding numberof spaces adjacent thehub for the reception of the product to be treatedand open or exposed externally,

an inlet and brackets 23 serve preferably peripherally, for thedischarge of the product "Thus! have'shown in Figure 1 twofrusto-conical elements 43 and H related to the element 42 to providetwo spaces 45 and Elements 0 and are mounted upon the cari? of rlermember 42 in spaced relation to each other given them by the treatingunit, life inthe insect aforesaid applications treating unit It in myapplication 91!1d the carrier member 42 itself, and for this purpose theperipheral portions of all three mem-.

bers may be extended or flanged outwardly in planes at right angles tothe axis of rotation to receive between them and at suitablyperipherally spaced intervals spacer element 41 conveniently taking theform of metal washers through which and through'suitable holes in theflanged extenmg i gusually varying with the character sions of members42, 43 and 44 extend ,bolts or studs 48." Thus,-the studs 48 may besecurely fitted oranchored in the carrier member 42, and the threemembers with interposed spacers-are securely clamped together inaccurate alignment 7 with each other, as by the nuts 49 on the studs.

With the parts proportioned and dimensioned as described in myapplication, Serial No. 321,680, illustratively with the minimum andmaximum radii'of the treatment. spaces 45"and 46 about and hence speedof drive for igiven radial dime sions to values below the breakingpp ormillof the product itself, I apply to the underfaces,

' asview'ed inl 'igure 1, of the elements or members 43 and 44, andhence, along their under frusto-conical surfaces. a layer of materialindicated at 5|) the material having the characteristic of cushioningthe particles that are pressed againstiit by the centrifugal forces theyexert and hence :the material of layers 5| is prefe'rably yieldableorresilient; a suitable material for this purpose is rubber of goodtenacity and resiliency, such as rubbercompound as is used in industryto protect surfaces from sand-blast. It may be bonded to the surfaces ofthe treating unit in any suitable manner, and preferably the 3 and about10 /2", respectively, and with the angle of inclination of the upperfaces of these treatment paces relative to the axis of rotation beingonthe order of 45, effective destruction of ticles of the product andalso the forms of insect infestation entered into the treatment space orspaces, are set into rotary movement in curved twisted paths ofincreasing radius, the velocity of this movement being high enough sothat the centrifugal forces exerted by the form or forms of insect lifepresses the form of insect life against the upper or outer bounding faceof the treatment space at a pressure to effect a life-destroyingcrushing, mutilation or deformation. Due to the increasing radius of thepath of movement the linear velocity increases and the pressure or forcewith which the form of insect life is by the centrifugal force it itselfexerts correspondingly .in-

creased. Accompanying the above described described action is also anabradingor rubbing of the form of insect infestation against thisbounding face of the treatment space.

As such life-destroying actions are taking place with respect to theforms of insect life, particles of the product are by the centrifugalforces they exposed or treating surfaces are given a smooth .finish. Inthickness the layers 5l-- may be on the order of and where the treatmentunit otherwise takes the form of that described in my application,Serial No. 321,680 as above described and as shown in Figure 1, thespacer elements 4'! between adjacent members of the treating unit are ofa thickness to give the treatment spaces a 45 and 46 a dimension orthickness on the order of 1/8 H I Accordingly, as the product particlesand the forms of insect infestation progress, as above described, alongthe treatment spaces 45 and 46, they are pressed against the active orbounding face or surface of the treatment zone'or zones,

- but with the active surface presented bya mateexert laid against andmoved along this outerbounding face of the treatment space and acontinuous progression of product particles, usually in the form of aturbulent layer, takes place from the inner entry ends of thetreatment-space or spaces to the peripheral discharge'en'ds thereof.During such movement of the product, and with the elements of thetreating-unit made of a suitable metal, such as an aluminum alloy withtheir surfaces anodized, as described in my said applications, it ispossible, at a given speed of drive and for a given type or character ofproduct, to effect destruction'of life in the forms of insectinfestation without materially milling or breaking up the product; butat the same speed of drive and with a different product or with the samecharacter of product and higher velocities, destructionof'insect lifemay be accompanied by substantial milling or further breaking up of theproduct particles.

To effectively guardiagainst such milling action in the treating unititself and to achieve other advantages, such as making it unnecessary tosuit the linear velocities of product particles rial such as the abovementioned rubber of the layers 5|, the product particles are,ineffect,'.-

cushioned and are not broken up or subjected to excessive milling, andthe construction and action, thus protective against milling, areparticularly advantageous where the product'is of the character offarina, s emolina, corn meal, etc. The various forms of insectinfestation, however, and apparently due to their'inherently differentphysical characteristics in contrast to=the characteristics of theproduct particles, are effectively mutilated, deformed or'crushed todestroy the life therein. Moreover, I have found that, apparentlybecause of the materially higher co-efiicients of, sliding and rollingfriction between the rubber elements 5| and-the various forms of insectlife as compared to those between metal and insect life stages, therubbing or abrad 1 ing action of the'forms' of insect life, pressedthereagainst by the centrifugal forces lhey exert, is intensified and somuch so, that, for given radial dimensions such-as those illustrativelyset forth above, the rate of drive of the treating unit may bematerially. reduced. Thus I have achieved dependable life-destroyingaction, utilizing the effect of this intensified abrading action, atspeeds of drive reduced by one-half.

Thus, for example, and recurring to the illustrapressed against thefaces of the yieldable elements 5|, as they progressmardly in curvedpaths of increasing radius, i

ower pressures,

the product particles is correspondingly reduced. The power requirementis also considerably re- 'duced, as the product under treatment isaccelerated to lesser velocity.

The material undergoing treatment emerges from the treatment spaces 45and 45 at the perripherally open ends thereof, where it is dis chargedtangentially into the casing structure to be deflected and guideddownwardly for discharge through the exit passageway 22; preferably Iprovide suitable means for preventing breaking-up or milling impact ofthe discharged product particles with the casing structure, for

I have found that, particularly with certain dimensionai and velocityrelationships, it is possible to cause milling or breaking up of productparticles as aresult of letting them impact against the interior metalcasing wall. 1

A preferred, and convenient arrangement comprises a pluralityof members55 (Figures 1 and positioned in spaced relation circumferentially of theperipheral discharge ends or months of the treating spaces of thetreating unit, being of a length in the direction of the axis ofrotation of the treating unit on the order of that indicated in Figure1,.bein'g sufficient to encompass the vertical spread of material as itis discharged from the treating unit. Their vertical end faces or edgesare preferably rounded.

Members 55 are alined and ,spaced from each other so that. any tangentas indicated, for example, at 55 in Figure 2, drawn from the peripheraldischarge mouth or mouths of -the treating unit'intersects or strikes amember 55 and hence any particle discharge, in a general tangentialdirection, does not reach the interior metal wall of the casing, butinstead is certain to be cast against a face of a member 55.Conveniently the latter, as indicated; in Figure 2, are alined ailcngrespective radii drawn to the axis of rotat on. V

' Members 55 are preferably arranged in depending relation and aconvenient means for mounting themv in the relationship above describedand as indicated in Figures 1 and 2 comrises a depending annulus 51preferably formed integrally with the upper casing section i5 andprovided in its underface with slots 55 as is better shown in Figure 3,the above-mentioned radialialignment of the members 55 facilitating themilling of the slots 55 in-the part 51. Slots 55 are of lesser widththan the thickness of the members 55 so that, where the latter are madeof a resilient material, their upper end portions,

received respectively into the slots 58, expand or press outwardlyagainst the walls ofthe slot and thus maintain the assembly of themembers 55 to I the part 51. Where the material is also stretch- -able,like rubber, the insertion of the upper ends of the. members 55 in theslot 58 may be readily accomplished by stretching each upper end in thedirection of its width as viewed in Figure thus reducing the thickness,for reception into the slot 58, whereupon, upon release, the materialtends to. return to normal and to expand against the walls of the slot,and-thus hold itself assembled to the member 51.

and thus the tendency to break up or further mill with such anarrangement the product particles discharge tangentially from thetreating unit at linear velocities which are directly proportional tothe radial dimension of the treating 5 unit and its speed of rotation,are prevented from impacting against the inside metal wall of the casingstructure and from striking it with a breaking-up ormilling impact,.andinstead they strike the yieldable material of the members 55,

their energy, rather than breaking them up or tending to break them up,being dissipated in distorting the yieldable material of members 55 andin tending to flex the latter bodily in the direction of rotation of thetreating unit and about the line of suspension thereof adjacent theirupper ends. This bodiLv flexing may be aided to some extent by windageeflects, giving the product-receiving faces of the members 55 aninclination or curvature in a direction alsoto tend to deflect theproduct particles downwardly into the lower portion of the casingstructure.

Where,'with this arrangement, the treatin unit embodies also elements 5|so as to permit I operation of the treating unit at a lesser speed ofdrive, th velocity at which the product particles are discharged fromthe'treating' unit is correspondingly less and the members 55 aresubiected to a lesser burde Where the apparatus embodies a treating unitof the general type described in my application, Serial No. 395,030,wherein the treating space or spaces comprise several sections makingangles to each other and to the axis of rotation, elements like, the.elements 5| of Figure 1 may be embodied in the. manner indicated in Figure4 herein. Thus, for simplicity of illustration the.

treating unit of Figure 4, generally indicated by the referencecharacter 55 is shown as having one treatment space formed between acarrier memher 5| thathas a hub portion II by which it is related to thedrive shaft portion l2- in the manner described above in connection withFigure 1, and by a companion annular member 52; member 52 is carried bycarrier member 5| by means of shouldered studs'53 rigidly fixed inmember 5| stepped holes an inner ring portion 52'- of member 52 isreceived, suitable nuts 6| clamping the member 52 securely between themand the shoulders of the studs 53.

Faces 52 and 5| of members 52 and 5| are shaped substantially as shownin Figure 4 and form a converging annular entry mouth, into' which theinner portion of the guiding flange ll of the inlet passageway llprojects, thus to lead the material to be treated to the treatment spacewhich is generally indicated by the reference character 54 and'which, asin my said application, comprises several sections.

Thus a section 54 extends between companion frusto-conical faces 5| and52, followed by a section 54 formed by'faces 5| and 52 which extend atright angles to the axis of rotation, thence follows a section 54between frusto.conical faces 5| and 52, then a section 54 between faces5| and 52 followed by a section 54 between faces 5| and 52 terminate ina peripherally 'open discharge mouth the faces of which are preferablyparallel and extend at right angles to the axis of rotation.

As described in my said application, Serial No. -395,030, the activefaces against which the forms of insect life and the product particlesare pressed and progressed under the centrifugal forces they exert, arethe faces 5|, 52 and BI and onto the upper end of which and in suitablytogether but to these faces l: apply, in amanner described above inconnection with Figure 1, members i, preferably of rubberas abovedescribed with respect to the members 5| and preferably also ofappropriate thickness, say on the order of $41". leaving .efiectivetreatmentspaces 64, 64 and 64 of a width or thickness on the order ofit".

-It is, therefore, against the faces of the cushioning members 5| thatthe forms of insect in.- festation and particles of the product arepressed and progressed by exerted centrifugal forces as described indetail-in my said application, but with the elements 5| in the sectionsof the treatment space or spaces, breaking up or milling of the productparticles is counteracted and effective destruction of life .intheinsect forms achieved by actions such as those described above inconnection with Figure 1, it being noted.

that here again I am enabled to operate the treating unit, for givencomparable radial dimensions at materially reduced speed of rota tion.The discharged material may, as with the arrangement of Figure 1 bebrought into coaction with pendent members 55 as shown in Figure 4, thelatter being constructed, mounted and arranged as described inconnection with Figure 1.

, By way of further illustration I have shown in Figures 5 and 6 apreferred embodiment of -my invention with'respect to the type ofapparatus disclosed in my copending application, Serial No'. 345,715, towhich reference may be made for the details of construction. As shown inmy I co-pending application, the treating unit, generally indicated inFigures 5 and 6 by the reference character 10 comprises three annularplate members 13, T4 and 15, providing therebetween two annular spaces8| and 82. These plate members are held in spaced relation, by

spaced rows R R R It -R of four members M, M, M and M equi-distantlyspaced from each other and projectlng'upwardly and integrally formedwith the plate member 14 and by similarly equi-angularly spaced rows R RIt -R of four members M M, M and M proiecting downwardly from andintegrally formed with the platemember 14. Plate member I3 restsagainst,the lower end faces of all of'the members M", M, M and M 'and isprovided with .a corresponding number of equi-angularly spaced'rows ofmembers M M M and M" in- 3 tegrally formed therewith and of a height tocontact thegunderface of 'plate member 14, being received as isbettershown in Figured, midway between successive pairs of rows R R B -RUpper 'plate .member 15 1s correspondingly formed, being provided withsimilarly equi-distantly spaced rows R R It -R of rows of w bers M M Mand M", the latter being of a ownward extent to engage the upper face ofplate member I4 and extending, respectively, midway between successivepairs of rows lit, R R -R of the upwardly projecting members M M M and Mof plate member I4.

The three elements 13, "and 15 are secured by screws 84 and may as aunit be the gaps G may be about ft" in general radial wise direction,the leading faces of members M M Ltli lt4i*M make an angle to the radiusdrawn from the axis of rotation to'any point in.

the leading face, and where the members have parallel leading andtrailing faces this angularity may be achieved byplacing the traflingfaces along a radius; hence, any particle of the insect infested productthat is at any moment in engagement with a leading face, with thetreating unit rotating 'counter clockwise, reacts against the leadingface with a force or pressure which, due to the above-mentionedangularity, has a component one of which is normal to the leading faceand the other. of which is coincident with the leading face but extendsin an outward direction toward the outer periphery of the treating unit.Due to this latter componentand its direction-any particle partakes ofmovement in an outward direction along a leading face while beingpressed against it with a force or pressure represented by the componentthat is normal to the leading face.

As is better shown in Figure 6, the gaps between the members of each rowhave juxtaposed to them, though circumferentially spaced therefrom, amember of the next succeeding row. Members M M=M may have a verticaldimension of /2", their length radially may be A",

dimension and the diameter of the treating unit may be on the orderof13- In operation, as described in mysaid application, with thetreating unit dimensioned as just stated and driven at a speed on theorder of 3450 R. P. M., several actions take place to effect destructionof life in the forms of insect infestation. Thus, the hnear velocity ofthe leading I faces .of any member M M"M is sufficiently high tocauseparticles of the product and of the insect infestation to be pressedagainst the leading face thereof by a force or pressure represent- ;edby the above-mentioned normal or right angled component and at the sametime the 'out- ,wardly directed component causes the particles to slidealong the leading face and thus to increase the radial distance from theaxis of rotasecured t a hub member 16 secured to the shaft portion I2preferably in the manner described above in connection with Figure 1,and as indic edin Figure 5. s p

' d as shown in Figure 5 the downwardly projecting portion of flange I8of the inlet passageway [1, in coaction with-the outer face of hub 16guides the product to'be treated to the intion, with resultant increasein linear velocity 'and corresponding increasein the two components, thetravel along the leading face being Ithus accompanied by an increase inthe force with which any. particle is pressed against the leading face.And these effects are increasingly intensified with increase in distanceof the par- /ticuiar member fromthe axis of rotation.

The progression ofany particle of insect life along any leading face isthus accompanied by a rubbing or abraaing action, taking partindestrbying life therein. But when such a particle reaches the and edgeof a member and hence reaches the gap G, it loses Velocity and isever--v taken by the leading face of the member juxta posed to the gapG, being a memberin the neirt succeeding row; the overtaking memberwhich, relative to the particle, is travelling at a higher velocity,thus strikes the particle with a substantial impact. vin a crushingefiect' upon the forms of insect infestation, and effecting destructionof life therein.

By the time a particle emerges to be tangenner open annular ends of thetwo treatment tially discharged from th tr t mm has,

been subjected to the rubbing action along the leading faces of asuccession-of members and to a succession of impacts according to whichand how many gaps G it passed through in making the transition from theentry end of the treating ditions and with certain products, to havesuch actions as those just described eii'ect a substantial milling orbreaking up of the product particles themselves and according to myinvention I provide the leading faces of the members M1 M -M with amaterial like that of the members 5| of Figure 1, or of members 51 ofFigure 4, as indicated at ii" in Figure 6,- elements 5i" beingpreferably of rubber as above described. With the higher co-efllcient offriction of elements 5| as compared to the metal, such as anodized alu-0 as compared to those between metal and insect minum of the members M M-M of my said co-pending application, the rubbing action upon the formsof insect life as they are progressed along the leading face of anelement 5!" is materially enhanced and as is also the life-destroy-' 5ing distortion, mutilation or deformation of the form of insect life,but due to such reasons pointed'out above in connection with Figures 1and 4, breaking up or milling of the product particles can be thusappreciably counteracted. Due an apparently to the different physicalnature of the forms of insect life and the product particles, the impactof an element 5| against a product particle released through a gap G isnot a violent breaking-up or milling impact though the'im- 3 pacttherewith of the form of insect life is nevertheless a deforming ormutilating impact, and again appreciable action to effect furthermilling of the product particles may be counteracted. Also I am enabledto achieve dependable destruction of life in the forms of insectinfestation and also prevent milling of the product, while operating thetreating unit of Figures 5 and 6 illustratively dimensioned as abovedescribed, at a speed of drive materially less than, say 3450 R. P. M.,and may in eifect cut that speed of drive in half. Here again, theenhanced action achieved by elements 5 l in effecting life-destroyingcrushing or mutilation of forms of insect life makes it possible tooperate at lower peripheral velocities by which also the productparticles benefit in thatthe forces tending to break them up arecorrespondingly reduced.

As in the arrangement of Figure 1, I prefer product from the treatingunit 10, to coact there with in counteracting the milling action thatmight otherwise take place as, for example, by

impacting the discharged particles against the co interior metal wallsof the casing structure. In Figures 5 and 6, the elements are shownrelated to the treating unit in the manner described above in connectionwith Figure 1 and ing up the particles,-but in deforming the ma- 70terial itself. Some materials, such as certain so-called syntheticrubbers, which may have a slow rate of recovery upon defamation can beemployed through preferably the materials that good resiliency, rubbercompounds certain synthetic rubbers are utilized. Also, the material ofthe elements 55 may, as .in the illustrative embodiment, be ofcharacteristicsto be bodily deformable, as by bendi ng. .or flexing,under the'impacts of the product particles; the

energy of the latter dissipating itself inpart at least in eifectingsuch deformation.

Though in the foregoing I have mention as a preferred embodiment,-rubber compound as the material for the elements 5|, 5|, 5|", it will beunderstood that other materials than rubber compound as such may beemployed to good eifect, such as synthetics like those above mentioned.By way of further example, abrasionresistant materials such asbber-asbestos compounds or other compoun such as are used for brakelinings, or other materials having good co-eillcients of slidingand'rolling friction between them and the various forms of insect lifelife stages may be employed.

Thus it will be seen that there has been provided in this application amethod and apparatus in which the various objects hereinabove set forthtogether with many thoroughly practical advantages are successfullyachieved. It will be seen that effective destruction of life in theforms of insect infestation ismade possible at lower peripheralvelocities and hence at lower rotary speeds of the treating unit, and atlower power requirements, and that milling of the product particles isprevented or made substantially -inappreciable in a simple andinexpensive manner, a manner adaptable, as above indicated by theillustrative three embodiments,.

"disclosed in my above mentioned applications.

And where, for given radial dimensions, my in- 40 vention is utilized tooperate the treating unit at lower rotary speeds, other desirableadvantages and coactions may be realized; for example, with lower rotaryspeeds, the eifect ofa condition or conditions of unbalance in thetreating unit is greatly reduced, virtually inversely as the square ofthe linear velocity, and thus the burden of the structural arrangementabove described for overcoming or counteracting .conditions of unbalanceis materially reduced,

with corresponding mechanical advantage in the construction of theapparatus in its entirety. Moreover, the apparatus will be seen to bewell adapted to meet the-widely varying conditions of practical use. t0employ elements 55 in the apparatus of Fig; 55 A ure 5, spaced about inthe region of discharge of As many possible embodiments may be made ofthe mechanical features of the above inven- 'tion and asthe art hereindescribed might be derstood that all matter hereinabove set forth, I

or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limitin I claim: from which the action andcoactions thereof will 1 An apparatus for treating a product comprisinga casing structure having aninlet passageway and an outlet passageway, arotary product-treating means within'said structure having inlet meansadjacent its axis ofrotation for receiving the particles of the producttobe treated and having outlet means at a greater radius than said inletmeans for peripherally dischargin the product particles by" thecentrifugal forces they exert in response to the rotary movement Elvenhave a high. rate of recovery and hence have 7 them by said rotarymeans, and a plurality of sheets supported by said casing structureabout said rotary means and circumferentially spaced from each otherwith their faces extending at a substantial angle to the tangentialpaths of discharge of product particles from said rotary means. v 2. Inapparatus forefiecting the destruction or all insect life in a fiowableproduct composed of individual solid parts, th combination of, a rotarytreating device having a cushioning and frictional treating surfacagainst which the product and insect life engages during the treatment,confining means associated with said device and forming a treating spaceconfined to the dimen-.

parts of said product, means to feed said prodnot to said inlet so thatit may flow through said treating space, and means to rotate saidtreating device at a high speed to provide a life destroying engagementbetween every individual particle of said insect life and said treatingsurface during passage of said product through said treating space, saidapparatus including a product outlet extending substantially around saidtreating device through which the product falls away from said treatingdevice.

3. In apparatus for effecting the destruction of all insect life in aflowable product composed-of spaced surfaces defining a treating space,at least one of said surfaces against which the product and insect lifeengages during the treatment being cushioning and frictional, thesmallest dimension between said surfaces being larger than the largestof said parts of said product, there being at the central portionof thedevice an inlet forminga substantially unrestricted passageway to mentbetween said last mentioned surface and every individual particle ofinsect life in the product.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which means formed of yieldablematerial are interposed in the path of the product particles dischargedfrom said rotarytreating device for cushioning them against substantialbreakag upon impact with a part of the apparatus. Y

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which means are providedforpreventing substantial breakage of discharged particles of the product,said means comprising a plurality of flexiblemembers positioned in thepaths of movement of-the product particles discharged from said rotarytreating devicewhereby the, energy of motion of said particles isdissipated in flexing saidflexiblemembers.

product-directing means, a frusto-conical rotary treating devicehavingan interior cushioning and frictional surface of a form generated by therotation of a straight line about the axis of rotation, said devicehaving a central inlet adapted to receive the product from saidproduct-directing means so that the product is directed along saidtreating surface, said productdirecting means and said inlet forming asubstantially unrestricted passageway to allow a substantially evenstream of said product to flow freely to said treating surface, andmeans to rotate said treating device at a speed to cause the product tomove along said interior treating surindividual solid parts, thecombination of, a rotary treating device having two opposed axially faceand to be pressed thereagainst during such movement to inflict lethaltrauma on all insect life in said product.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the sheets are yieldable.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1' in which the sheets are connected tothe casing structure at one end only so that the free ends thereof mayyield upon impact.

9 In apparatus for effecting the destruction; all insect life in afiowable product composed of individual solid parts, the combination of,a rotary treating device having a rubber treating surface against whichthe product and insect life engage during the treatment, confining meansassociated with said device and forming a treating space confined .tothe dimensions of said device and having an inlet forming asubstantially unrestricted passageway to allow a substantially evenstream of said product to flow freely to said treating space, thesmallest dimension of said treating space being larger than the maximumdimension of the individual parts of said product, means to feed saidproduct to said inlet sothat it may flow through said treating space,and means to rotate said treating device at a high speed to provide alife destroying engagement between every individual particle of saidinsect life and said treating surface during said treating device.

10. In apparatus for effecting the destruction of all insect life in aflowable product composed of individual solid parts, the combination of,a.

rotary treating device having two opposed axially spaced surfacesdefining a treating space, at least one of said surfaces against whichthe product and insectlife engage during the treat ment being formed ofrubber, the smallest dimension between said surfaces being larger thanthe largest of said parts of said product, there being at the centralportion of the device an inlet forming a substantially unrestrictedpassageway- .to allow a substantially even stream of said product toflow freely to said treating space, means to feed said product to saidinlet, and. means to .6. In apparatus for elfecting the destructionrotate said rotary device to flow the product outwardly through saidtreating space by centrifugal force and to provide a. life destroyingengagement between said last mentioned surface and every individualparticle of insect life in the product.

v manxnm s. sm'rn.

